Japanese Animator Shingo Araki (“Yu-Gi-Oh!”) Passes Away

AnimeNewsNetwork.com is reporting that Japanese animation director and character designer Shingo Araki passed away on Thursday. Araki worked on a number of anime projects, including Yu-Gi-Oh!, The Rose of Versailles and the Saint Seiya series. In addition, he worked on several 1980s American productions like Inspector Gadget, The Adventures of the American Rabbit and G.I. Joe: The Movie. Toei Animation released a statement about Araki’s passing, saying:

We are very sorry to hear about the sudden passing of Mr. Shingo Araki. We offer our deepest sympathies to his family.

Mr. Araki was a great animator who was adept at creating dynamic action anime sequences and elegant character designs beloved by many fans. At our studio, he was deeply involved with many works, such as Babel II, Cutie Honey, UFO Robo Grendizer, and Saint Seiya, which have transcended the times and continue to attract fans even now. He infused lively charm into his characters.

All of us at Toei Animation are deeply grateful for his kindness and contributions during his lifetime and express our heartfelt condolences.